Team Nigeria relay coordinator, American Maurice Greene who was recently employed by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) had his first training session with Nigerian athletes on yesterday in preparation for the MT Sac relays Championships which starts  today in California and the Penn Relays which comes up in a week’s time in Philadephia.

According to AFN,  Greene was given a warm welcome by coaches and athletes who also commended the AFN for taking a step, which they all said will improve Nigerian relay teams in the major championships this year.

AFN Secretary General Olumide Bamiduro  stated that Greene’s contract, which will commence at the MT. Sac Relay on 17th of this month, will terminate after the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and the Africa Athletics Championships in Marrakesh, Morocco in August 2014.

Speaking on the training session, Coach Daniel Etsebiminor said; “The AFN is always taking steps that will improve track and field in Nigeria and the coming of Maurice Greene has shown that again; we the coaches appreciate his coming and also thanked the AFN”.

Team Nigeria will be participating in the Mt Sac Relays Championship which holds from April 17 to 20 in Walnut, California and is part of the AFN build up for the IAAF World Relays in Bahamas next month and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland in July.

According to the AFN, 20 athletes will represent Nigeria. They include Blessing Okagbare, Gloria Asumnu, Obinna Metu, Amaechi Morton, Regina George, Nicholas Imhoapermhe, Chukwudike Harry, Noah Akwu and Abiola Onakoya.

Others are Isah Salihu, Orukpe Erayokan, Stephanie Kalu, Khadijah Suleiman, Peace Uko, Omolara Omotosho, Bukola Abogunloko and Folashade Abugan,

Josephine Ehigie, Benjamin Ada and Ossai Rita complete the list while the coaches are Eric Campbell, Gabriel Okon, Daniel Etsebiminor, Victor Omagbemi and the new relay coordinator, Maurice Greene, with the federation’s President, Evangelist Solomon Ogba and Bamiduro also among the delegation.